BMW replaces rear-seat DVD players with intelligent iPad cradles

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German automobile maker BMW attended the Paris Motor Show and showed off a new solution to keep your kids occupied during long rides, a rear-seat iPad cradle. Watching DVDs on the back-seat is so last century, just ask your teenager. What your kids need is convenient access to an iPad that can do so much more, like play music and movies, run the latest games, read e-books, and do all sorts of other app-based magic.

The cradle rotates to accommodate the device in both portrait and landscape and sports the iPod dock connector to power and charge the device during use. BMW plans to integrate the cradle with their vehicles by supporting the iPod-out feature of iOS 4 that allows any accessory control basic music functions, like play, pause, skip, fast forward, etc.

In addition, they plan on installing iPhone cradles into dashboards of all new BMWs and integrate them with in-car music and GPS system wirelessly, over Bluetooth, through the BMW Link application. Mindy you, the iPad cradle isn’t just some crazy concept that’ll never reach the market. Quite the contrary, it’s about to become standard on the new X3 and will roll out to all BMW series cars beginning Spring 2011.

Christian’s Opinion

BMW has ingeniously saved money because the cradle costs peanuts compared to a back-seat portable DVD player with a built-in LCD screen that puts a $2,000 premium on the car price. Parents get to pacify their kids with a cutting-edge entertainment device and the kids, well, they’ve always wanted to play games, anyway. All of a sudden, even the longest journey becomes smooth sailing.

I’m sure other car makers will follow suit, tossing outdated DVD players and replacing them with iPad-friendly setups. Pricier cars could even come with an iPad included.

Speak Your Mind

Joe Blow

Wow, I guess no one’s going to buy a BMW now! Everyone hates the iPad!!

Qun Mang

This post just reeks of a, let’s just say strong pro-Apple bias. DVD may be showing its age what with HDTV and Bluray gaining ground month by month, but ipad is only a viable alternative if it becomes as ubiquitous as DVD. This might work for BMW if their customer base strongly overlaps with Apple’s, but I don’t believe this idea will spread that far from BMW.

dccarron

I really don’t see how this article is pro-Apple bias. It’s simply reporting on the interesting fact BMW is now supporting an iPad lifestyle.

It makes sense because in the early 2000’s BMW made a big marketing deal about being “ipod” compatible. Which was great for young/old middle class individuals who had the buying power to purchase an iPod, while also having the buying power to purchase a new car. (a lot of those types in wealthy neighborhoods.)

And since there are a lot of lifestyle/design/aesthetic values that both companies share, it would make sense to sorta make a buzz around this news.

buster

I would not expect people (ie. BMW drivers in this case) to have anything like as many films which will play on the iPad as they have in DVD form, unless they’re either happy to buy the same film twice or do a lot of ripping. Also, given the iPad’s lack of memory card slot, even with a 64GB version you’ll struggle to get ie. 2 or 3 weeks worth of films in there…